A writer at a national magazine who has been mentoring me gave my name to the sports editor at a major metropolitan paper for a general-assignment reporting job there. Not only that, but the editor expressed interest.

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That's the good news.

The bad news is that I'm only a rising senior in college.

I assume the writer forgot I had another year and thought I just graduated.

Would it be OK for me to apply for the position?

I wouldn't mind taking time off from school. I could use my salary to help my parents pay back my student loans and the tuition reimbursement benefits to finance the final courses I need to take.

Also, given the job market, it may be harder to find a staff job a year from now.

But I'm afraid I'll embarrass myself and my mentor because I'm only 21. I want the editor to understand that I may just be a kid, but I'm young and hungry and serious about doing good journalism.

And if I get the job, I imagine there are clerks and assistants a couple years older than me who would resent me.

What do you think I should do?

Thanks,

Brad

Whoa, there.

Interest is a long way from a job offer.

Joe Grimm

Talk to your mentor, talk to the editor and find out what this expression of interest means. Smart editors know they will need people on a continuous basis for years into the future. They express interest in people at various stages of their careers.

You only have an issue if this editor wants to make you an offer. Then you'll have to consider whether to complete college first or to do it on a part-time basis.

I would not worry whether younger people will be envious. There might always be people who resent others' success, and they may be of any age. Just do your job well and don't worry about what you can't control.

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Coming Tuesday: His New York internship is a dud, and a wire service seems to want him to leave it early to come over. He wonders what to do.

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